Talking Under Water

In this episode of Talking Under Water, Bob Crossen speaks with Elora Arnette, associate director of Water Finance Assistance, about the multifaceted challenges facing small water utilities in 2025. They explore workforce shortages, including the growing number of soon-to-retire operators and the difficulty in replacing them, particularly in rural communities. Arnette discusses how many small utilities rely on multitalented local staff and even second-career workers, but stresses that this model is not sustainable long-term. The conversation also covers funding cuts to state revolving funds, the growing threat of extreme weather events, and the resource limitations that prevent proactive planning. Arnette highlights available support options, such as discounted training and emergency planning services, and calls for strategic rate reviews to maintain system viability. Show Notes:     EPA announces $49 million to aid rural, small, and tribal communities with wastewater challenges How resilience and rate-setting can improve Wastewater's D+ ASCE grade How value engineering is helping small systems secure big dollars Timestamps: Introduction to small system workforce issues | 0:00 Guest Elora Arnette joins the discussion | 1:13 Expected wave of workforce retirements | 2:20 Small systems rely on multi-role community hires | 3:31 Recruiting passionate locals is key but unsustainable | 4:00 Older workers entering industry as second career | 4:45 Families encouraging next generation into water careers | 6:38 Regulatory uncertainty creates operational whiplash | 7:10 Small systems can’t pivot like larger ones | 8:27 SRF budget cuts hurt small systems most | 9:07 Lack of rate revenue complicates project funding | 10:17 Extreme weather overwhelms small system preparedness | 12:06 Required planning exists but is often unused | 13:32 Northern systems more equipped for typical local events | 14:44 Lack of backup infrastructure hampers storm resilience | 15:24 Consistent theme: lack of resources everywhere | 16:07 Free and discounted support programs are available | 17:06 Rate reviews crucial for long-term viability | 18:25 Closing thoughts and future conversations | 19:28 Housekeeping and announcements for listeners | 20:00   Resources:  Use code WWD15 to get 15% off your attendee pass when you register at StormCon.com. Wastewater Digest YouTube channel WaterWorld Top Project nominations  About the Podcast       Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.       Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@endeavorb2b.com engaging with them on X @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media.     Editor's Note: The episode summary and timestamps were written with the assistance of generative AI.

Ian Bramson, Vice President of Industrial Cybersecurity at Black & Veatch, dives into the critical state of cybersecurity in the water sector. He reveals that 95% of utilities now prioritize cybersecurity, driven by increasing attack frequency and sophistication. Bramson discusses the vulnerabilities faced by these systems, highlighting the rise of ransomware and internal errors. He emphasizes the urgent need for water utilities to integrate cybersecurity into their operations, address funding challenges, and adopt a culture of security awareness for effective resilience.

In this episode of Talking Under Water, we discuss industry news, including the  recent floods in Texas, North Carolina and New Mexico, President Trump’s spending and tax bill, known as the Big Beautiful Bill and PFAS settlement payouts.    Show Notes:     What to know about the Texas and North Carolina floods [USA Today] Who's to blame for Texas flooding tragedy? There is a lot of finger pointing. [The Washington Post] Chantal floods North Carolina, now moving into Mid-Atlantic [NBC News] 3 dead after historic flash flooding hits New Mexico town ravaged by wildfires [Raleigh News & Observer] 6 lives lost to Chantal in central NC. Here’s what we know about them. Every Mention of ‘water’ in Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill  More than $900 million awarded to clients from PFAS water contamination settlement Timestamps:    Episode intro | 0:47 Hosts introduce themselves and today's main topics. Texas flooding overview | 01:18  Co-host Katie Johns covers devastating flash floods across multiple states. Camp Mystic tragedy | 01:45 Flooding near Guadalupe River causes more than 100 deaths, including campers and counselors from Camp Mystic. Flood volume perspective | 02:36 Historical flood context | 03:23  Guadalupe River has flooded over a dozen times since 1978. North Carolina flooding | 03:35 Tropical Storm Chantal drops two months' worth of rain in some areas. New Mexico flooding | 04:26 Monsoons over wildfire burn scars cause deadly flash floods. Big, Beautiful Bill | 05:32 Co-host Mandy Crispin discusses Trump's new spending and tax bill. Water industry funding | 06:04 Details on source water and watershed funding. Reclamation project funds | 07:11 $1B for expanding water storage and conveyance systems. Indirect industry impacts | 07:44 Cuts to green energy; no water infrastructure funds. PFAS settlement |  08:31 Co-host Bob Crossen covers 3M, DuPont PFAS legal settlement funds. Future PFAS claims | 09:54  Legal options remain for more water/wastewater systems. Housekeeping | 10:10 Call for nominations for Wastewater Digest’s Top Project awards; WaterWorld July/August issue available in print and online' StormCon 2025 promo and exclusive code * Timestamps were written with the assistance of artificial intelligence. Resources:  WWD Top Projects  WaterWorld July/August Issue  Use code WWD15 to get 15% off your StormCon attendee pass when you register at StormCon.com.      About the Podcast       Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.       Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@endeavorb2b.com engaging with them on X @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media.          

In 2025, a significant portion of the global population faces water scarcity. The UN World Water Development Report in 2024 estimated that 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. How does the water industry not only address this challenge, but how does it do so without affecting future generations, and what is the future of the water energy nexus? Show Notes: Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 Best Innovation in Sustainability & Energy/Power Award VVater Time Stamps: Intro and summary | 00:00 How many people are without safe drinking water | 0:25 Gasts's Background | 1:48 What is the Faraday Reactor? How does it work? | 2:40 How are you scaling to meet the needs of industrial manufacturing and is it scalable to drinking water treatment plants? | 5:14 Does this work on PFAS? | 8:56  How is VVater positioned to compete with long established companies? | 9:46 What partnerships can be fostered between the water and energy sectors | 12:53 Resources:  SWS Top Projects Nominations  WaterWorld Top Projects Nominations  Wastewater Digest Top Projects Nominations About the Podcast Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.       Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@endeavorb2b.com engaging with them on X @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media.  

Bob Crossen, vice president of content strategy for water and energy, recaps the American Water Works Associations' ACE show, which took place from June 8-11, 2025, in Denver, Colorado. Crossen was joined at the show by WaterWorld editor-in-chief Mandy Crispin and Water Group associate editor Alex Cossin, so he shares insights the three of them gained from the show. First, Crossen discusses new products that Mueller and Neptune showcased then moves on to two interviews. The first is with AWWA CEO David LaFrance. LaFrance discussed funding, financing, rates, and public communications. The second is with Gigi Karmous-Edwards who spoke about the different kinds of artificial intelligence, and some  innovative uses for generative AI in the water sector.  Show Notes: PFAS treatment and litigation strategies for water systems Mueller teases hydrant retrofit kits at AWWA ACE25 Neptune Technology Group highlights newest meter and cellular endpoint offerings Deconstructing the conundrum of rising rates and water affordability Time Stamps: Introduction & summary | 0:11  Mueller teases new product | 0:56 Neptune showcasese new products | 1:24 Article read: PFAS treatment & litigation strategies for water systems | 2:18 Interview with David LaFrance begins | 4:42 Top challenges for water industry | 5:10 Rate-setting tools and recommendations | 5:59  Pressure on improving water quality | 8:15 Factoring in communication with the public | 9:05 Water 2050 | 11:12 Interview with David LaFrance ends | 12:15 Interview with Gigi Karmous-Edwards begins | 12:22 Breaking down what AI means | 13:06 Karmous- Edward's WRF AI project | 14:11 Where is AI falling short? | 15:07 Differences between Chatbots, AI and machine learning | 16:47 What does the future hold for these technologies in water? | 17:53 Interview with Gigi Karmous-Edwards ends | 22: 55 Housekeeping | 23:18 Resources:  SWS Top Projects Nominations WaterWorld Top Projects Nominations Wastewater Digest Top Projects Nominations    About the Podcast       Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.       Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@endeavorb2b.com engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media.    

For 15 years, Dean Amhaus has led The Water Council in Milwaukee as CEO and president, but just earlier this year he announced his retirement. In this episode, co-Host Bob Crossen speaks with Amhaus about his career, how far the water industry has come, and where it's headed. Over his tenure, Amhaus has witnessed trends and shifts in businesses, and advancements in technology while helping The Water Council become a destination for water technology innovators and businesses seeking to make meaningful connections for their solutions.  Show Notes:  Trump administration breaks silence on PFAS  EPA Announces It Will Keep Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFOA, PFOS  Toxic Release Inventory  [AWWA] Hazard Index for PFAS [Statement June 5, 2024]  Timestamps:    Intro and summary | 00:00 Retirement congratulations and plans | 1:05 Future work developments post-retirement | 2:40 How small business face similar problems to small utilities | 4:43 The importance of technical and financial assistance for small systems | 6:17 How microplastics and PFAS have taken over headlines | 7:35 How water scarcity isn't always about limited access to water supply | 10:10 Surprises in the business in the past 15 years | 12:36 How corporations are recognizing water's criticality to their businesses | 14:23 The intersection of economic growth and water infrastructure needs | 17:20 Most memorable moments in 15 years with The Water Council | 19:01 The Water Council pioneered collaborative water hubs | 22:40 Why community and culture are vital to business success | 25:16 Words for Dean's successor as CEO | 26:52 Resources:  SWS Top Projects Nominations  WaterWorld Top Projects Nominations  Wastewater Digest Top Projects Nominations    About the Podcast       Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.       Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@endeavorb2b.com engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media.  

In this episode of Talking Under Water, the hosts discuss recent industry news, including President Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, which amounts to $4.2 billion in a total funding reduction across the entire agency in 2026 compared to 2025 for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Additionally, the hosts discuss recent U.S. Geological Survey grants to 12 state agencies to support landslide risk reduction and hazard mitigation projects; and the EPA’s latest strategy update on addressing PFAS chemicals. Finally, the hosts share news on the EPA extending compliance deadlines for PFOA and PFOS and rescinding the Hazard Index.  Show Notes:   White House proposes $2.4B in SRF cuts for 2026  California moves forward with Right to Clean Water Act bill  USGS awards $1 Million in grants for landslide risk reduction projects  Trump administration breaks silence on PFAS  How PFAS regulations have changed in the Trump administration, so far  EPA extends compliance deadlines for PFOA and PFOS, rescinds Hazard Index  EPA Announces It Will Keep Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFOA, PFOS Toxic Release Inventory [AWWA] Hazard Index for PFAS [Statement June 5, 2024] Timestamps:    Host introduction & summary | 0:48  White House proposes $2.4B cut to water SRF programs | 1:26 USGS awards $1 million for landslide risk reduction | 5:01 California committee passes Right to Clean Water Act | 5:40 A concentrated month for PFAS regulatory changes | 6:35 Housekeeping — nominate a top project | 15:45 Resources:  SWS Top Projects Nominations  WaterWorld Top Projects Nominations  Wastewater Digest Top Projects Nominations About the Podcast       Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.       Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@endeavorb2b.com engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media.           

Frederick Johnson, the cybersecurity practice lead at Stantec, offers critical insights into the cyber threats facing water utilities. He discusses recent attacks in Wichita and Arkansas City, emphasizing the vulnerabilities in the water sector. Johnson highlights the need for strategic preparedness and the dangers of complacency among utilities. He also shares the importance of cybersecurity training for staff and the essential role of risk assessments. Plus, he sheds light on potential regulatory changes aimed at enhancing cybersecurity in the industry.

While many big utilities have largely implemented and installed advanced metering infrastructure for their distribution systems, medium and small systems are still making their way into that digital future. The technology of today offers a lot of benefits for utilities as well as their customers. Custom alerts for when a leak is detected so a costly water bill can be avoided. Data on water usage throughout the year to better understand habits and improve conservation. Temperature readings to track water quality. But each of those also results in a lot more data for the utility to process and analyze. So how have these AMI transformations impacted utilities around the U.S.? What are some of the pitfalls to avoid when planning an upgrade, and how does a water utility director identify what data points matter to them?  The sponsor for this episode is Kamstrup, which offers these AMI solutions and more to water utilities around the world. Dive into the details of AMI integration with Travis Smith, VP of North American Sales from Kamstrup. Show Notes Learn more about Kamstrup: https://www.kamstrup.com/en-us/water-solutions Timestamps Introduction and episode summary | 0:00 How metering technologies have shifted water utility operations for decades | 1:55 Critical operational aspects to review for digital metering transformations | 5:13 How to turn common pitfalls into future benefits | 7:07 How much metering data has changed with AMI systems | 8:14 Stepping stones and priorities for graduating to AMI | 9:45 Examples of data creating successful operational outcomes | 12:00 How Kamstrup's Histogram provides use patter insights | 14:52 What do utilities do when data is inaccurate or missing? | 16:39 What are the causes of inaccurate or lost data? | 18:43 What does the utility of tomorrow look like? | 21:39 How do we make that utility of the future possible? | 24:48 Resources World of Water: www.waterworld.com/world-of-water Hot Innovations in Wastewater Treatment eHandbook: https://www.wwdmag.com/ehandbooks/wastewater-treatment/whitepaper/55281395/wastewater-treatment Register for StormCon: www.stormcon.com About the Podcast       Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.

In this episode of Talking Under Water, the hosts discuss recent industry news, including construction and discharge updates at the international boundary; the completion of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) work in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene, the EPA announcing a public hearing for an updated draft of the MS4 general permit in Massachusetts, what to expect for PFAS regulations under the new administration; and a ban on fluoride in drinking water.    Show Notes:    Mexico temporarily discharges wastewater into Tijuana River USIBWC investigates transboundary wastewater flow into U.S. EPA completes Hurricane Helene response in North Carolina EPA announces public hearing for updated draft of MS4 general permit in Massachusetts How PFAS regulations have changed in the Trump administration, so far The Guardian:Trump officials quietly move to reverse bans on toxic ‘forever chemicals’ What do the new PFAS MCLs mean for the water industry? Utah becomes first U.S. state to ban fluoride in drinking water EPA to review scientific information on fluoride in drinking water Timestamps:    Cold open | 0:00 Host introduction and episode summary | 0:20 Updates on the International Boundary and Water Commission discharges and construction | 1:05 U.S. EPA copmletes its FEMA support work for Hurricane Helene recovery effort | 4:40 How PFAS regulations could change during President Trump's term | 6:59 Housekeeping | 14:36 Resources:    Wastewater Digest YouTube SWS webinar: Commercial Industrial and Institutional (CII) NPDES Permit in two watersheds in the Los Angeles area   About the Podcast       Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.       Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@endeavorb2b.com engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media.